Othello Scene 3 Rhetorical Analysis
Hayden Dow
Ms. Bourassa
CP English 2
5 February 2011
Act 3 Scene 3 Rhetoric Iago throughout the story has been known as “Honest Iago.” As you read the piece he is clearly not honest and speaks of his fiendish plans to ruin Othello’s relationship with Desdemona. In this act Iago’s plans really start coming together and are unfolding before him and he hardly has to say a thing. The main characters in this piece would include: Desdemona, Cassio, Othello, and Iago and each one of them has their own specific motivation in this scene. Iago being the main focus in this scene all of the characters play a certain role. Desdemona after leaving her father to be with Othello and accompanying Othello on his voyage to Cyprus has had a similar motivation throughout the piece. Desdemona has wanted to prove that she is a good wife to Othello. By Act three Scene three Desdemona has noticed something is not quite right with Othello. However, she believes that it is just because of what is happening in Cyprus and because he has just been forced to fire his lieutenant for the time being. Desdemona wants to make Othello happy again and she believes by him making Cassio his lieutenant again he won’t be as stressed. Othello approaches Desdemona several times hinting at the “affair
” he believes is going on like when he says “This hand is moist” meaning you are having an affair. During the time though words had many double meanings and moist also meant youthful. Essentially all of the things Othello says to Desdemona that hint at the supposed affair are just things that she is taking as compliments. Cassio does not make up very much of this scene but causes a lot of conflict between the other characters in it. Earlier in the Cassio had lost his job due to striking Montano, who is a gentleman of Cyprus. After Othello fires him Cassio is a mess and is at a desperate stage where his motivation is to get his job back. Iago sees this as an opportunity to get Othello to believe
Ms. Bourassa
CP English 2
5 February 2011
Act 3 Scene 3 Rhetoric Iago throughout the story has been known as “Honest Iago.” As you read the piece he is clearly not honest and speaks of his fiendish plans to ruin Othello’s relationship with Desdemona. In this act Iago’s plans really start coming together and are unfolding before him and he hardly has to say a thing. The main characters in this piece would include: Desdemona, Cassio, Othello, and Iago and each one of them has their own specific motivation in this scene. Iago being the main focus in this scene all of the characters play a certain role. Desdemona after leaving her father to be with Othello and accompanying Othello on his voyage to Cyprus has had a similar motivation throughout the piece. Desdemona has wanted to prove that she is a good wife to Othello. By Act three Scene three Desdemona has noticed something is not quite right with Othello. However, she believes that it is just because of what is happening in Cyprus and because he has just been forced to fire his lieutenant for the time being. Desdemona wants to make Othello happy again and she believes by him making Cassio his lieutenant again he won’t be as stressed. Othello approaches Desdemona several times hinting at the “affair
” he believes is going on like when he says “This hand is moist” meaning you are having an affair. During the time though words had many double meanings and moist also meant youthful. Essentially all of the things Othello says to Desdemona that hint at the supposed affair are just things that she is taking as compliments. Cassio does not make up very much of this scene but causes a lot of conflict between the other characters in it. Earlier in the Cassio had lost his job due to striking Montano, who is a gentleman of Cyprus. After Othello fires him Cassio is a mess and is at a desperate stage where his motivation is to get his job back. Iago sees this as an opportunity to get Othello to believe